The Right Influence in a Political World by Rocky Fleming
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:19-24 (ESV)
I’ve recently experienced a sorrowful meeting with a brother in Christ who showed so much out-of-character anger and hostility toward me. It centered around many unhealthy, and ungodly expressions that the current political biases in the Church provoke. It seems almost bazaar and counter to our relationship with Christ that such words and behavior would occur within God’s family, and yet we see it all the time now.
It is as if one thinks he or she has moral high ground because they believe a certain way, and therefore, their pride in this perceived moral high ground makes them lash out toward those who do not believe as they do with certain issues. They give themselves permission to express distaste, railing judgement and anger, for they feel that they are in the right, and whatever they say is OK with God. But are they?
Are we really so sure of God’s point of view that we use our own perspective as the measure? It is with this in mind that I would like to present a litmus test, of sorts, where we may be able to ask and receive the most important answer to the question to the divisions within the Church based on the current day disputes that politics are creating. With this said I feel we need to first ask this important question:
“What does God think of our behavior when we have disagreements in His family that lead us to angerly lash out, to castigate, to consider that we are in the right and others in the wrong, and then express our perceived moral high ground with rage?”
Isn’t that really the question we should be asking about our behavior as followers of Christ no matter the issues? What does Jesus think of what I just said and how I just acted? I think it is the most important question, more than any political position, and it needs an answer. Now I am very aware of the issues of both political parties, and no matter the camp one is in, it seems to be a new norm and even, expected, to be angry against the other party and the people represented in it. This anger keeps healthy dialogue from being expressed and heard by each other where opposite views could be better understood. There are reasons that certain followers of Christ choose to follow and protect an issue they believe in. But others in God’s family might not see things the same way, and they have their own important issues to protect. This is where we lose sight of what God values the most.
What does God value the most over the political issues that we think are so important? God values unity in the Body of Christ. He values love and respect for one another. He values our commitment to Him over any cause, no matter what it is or how important we may think it is. But this is what’s happening. We may believe what we think is right and feel that we are standing on some kind of moral high ground based on the fact that we think we have knowledge of what God wants concerning a political issue, and because we think we know His heart with it. Though we have a limited perception of reality, our prideful confidence in ourselves somehow gives us permission to fight like a gutter rat to make our point and criticize anyone not on our side. But we are delusional if we think we know God’s heart in this matter if we do things that way, for God’s heart would never instruct us to speak and act with rage, with hostility, with railing accusations to anyone, and especially to someone in His family. So, what is the litmus test I speak of, other than asking what Jesus thinks, which we tend to forget. There is something that I think describes behaviors quite well that might answer that question, and it is found in my introductory scripture.
In Galatians 5:19-24 we see two natures contrasted. Start with this statement and read the examples that are listed: “Now the works of the flesh are evident ….” Do you see any of those examples showing up in your life, especially when you are provoked or heated up? How about these behaviors in particular? “Enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions.” Now be honest with yourself and most of all with the Lord. As a Christian, are you giving yourself permission to release any of these traits to others because you think you have moral high ground? Let me be frank. You have just blown your moral high ground with the Lord, for He values our love, kindness, and patience as His representative to people, more than our political persuasions or causes.
How do we navigate through the most polarized and disgusting divisions in the Church that I’ve seen due to our political and ideological differences? This is where the second nature comes in, and it is this nature within us that creates a climate where we are able listen to others and skillfully communicate our opinions back to them without anger and harshness. This second nature is the nature of the Holy Spirit and His characteristics begin with these words:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …”
This is the nature of Jesus Christ. The point I want to make about the nature of Christ leading our words and actions is what is said next in the last verse:
“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Can we not see that to have the nature of Christ in us, a nature that Almighty God delights in, a nature that will influence our world in a godly effective manner, a nature that the Church and this world longs for, requires a metaphoric crucifixion of our own passions and desires to be replaced by Jesus’ passion and desires? This is where true moral high ground is found. Do not deceive yourself in thinking otherwise. This is the nature that God wants us to emit from our life under all conditions, and it is found when we abide in Him and He in us. As a Christian, this is our cause and purpose and method of delivery. It is to honor His name by the way we live our life, and to influence others toward Him. The political culture needs this influence more than they realize. Let’s influence our world in the right way, and then God can do His work in those issues that we are concerned about.